What is ApsaraVideo Live?
ApsaraVideo Live is an audio and video live streaming platform that provides content ingest, distribution, and real-time transcoding at scale. It delivers high-definition, ultra-low latency streams to large concurrent audiences.
Why choose ApsaraVideo Live?
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Global coverage and reliability: Leverages 3,200+ POPs and nine core centers worldwide for stable, high-quality viewing.
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Ultra-low latency: Achieves end-to-end latency as low as 200–400 ms with Real-Time Streaming (RTS).
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Cost-effective HD streaming: Narrowband HD™ transcoding reduces bitrates by 30%–50% while maintaining video quality, saving bandwidth costs and improving playback on poor networks.
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Flexible solutions: Covers standard streaming through ARTC to meet needs from broadcast distribution to interactive co-streaming.
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Built-in media processing: Includes Production Studio, AI content moderation, transcoding, and recording.
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Ecosystem integration: Works with ApsaraVideo VOD, short-form video services, and intelligent media services to repurpose content and extend its value.
Core features
ApsaraVideo Live provides four core capabilities: standard streaming, RTS, ARTC, and Production Studio.
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Feature |
Advantages |
End-to-end latency |
Use cases |
Billing |
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Low cost, large-scale, high-concurrency one-way viewing. |
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Low-interaction broadcast: Best for broadcast media where minor synchronization differences between viewers are acceptable. |
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Ultra-low latency, high synchronization across viewers. |
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Real-time audio and video communication among multiple users. |
150–400 ms. |
Real-time communication: Suitable for social chat and real-time AI interaction. Combined with ApsaraVideo Live, it enables co-streaming that transforms viewers into participants. |
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Professional cloud-based directing for content creation and repurposing. |
Depends on the output streaming solution. |
Integrates AI video recognition, bilingual translation, ad replacement, and interactive tools for innovative production effects. Suitable for content production and management in gaming and e-sports, e-commerce, and online education scenarios. |
Architecture
ApsaraVideo Live provides server-side services for stream ingest, distribution, and real-time media processing.
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Stream ingest: A streamer captures content from a device and ingests it into an Alibaba Cloud live center through a nearby POP using the Push SDK.
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Media processing: After a stream enters a live center, it can be processed with transcoding, time shifting, recording, and snapshots.
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Content delivery and playback: Processed streams are distributed to viewers through globally distributed POPs. Integrating the ApsaraVideo Player SDK on client devices ensures smooth playback.
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Content repurposing: Recorded content can be automatically transferred to ApsaraVideo VOD for short-form video editing and secondary distribution, creating a live-to-VOD workflow.
SDK support
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SDK/platform |
Android |
iOS |
Web |
WeChat mini program |
Windows |
Flutter |
HarmonyOS |
Uni-app |
Linux |
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Get started
The following table lists the steps for activating and using each ApsaraVideo Live product.
Billing
ApsaraVideo Live billing covers stream acceleration, media processing, real-time communication, and other services. Billing overview.
FAQ
How do I choose a live center?
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Chinese mainland only: If streams are ingested and played within the Chinese mainland without media processing, select any Chinese mainland live center. Edge POPs are selected automatically by proximity.
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Global: If both streamers and viewers are outside the Chinese mainland, select a nearby live center such as Singapore.
If you need processing such as snapshots or recordings, ensure your storage service (for example, an OSS bucket) is in the same region as the live center to avoid cross-region latency.
How do I choose the right streaming protocol?
Choose a protocol based on your latency and compatibility requirements:
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Ultra-low latency interaction: Use the ARTC protocol. This requires the Push SDK and ApsaraVideo Player SDK for ingest and playback.
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Standard low-latency ingest: Use the RTMP protocol.
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Broad playback compatibility: Use HLS, which has higher latency.
What are the differences between standard streaming and Real-Time Streaming (RTS)?
Solution | RTS | Standard live streaming |
Ingest protocol | RTMP, ARTC | RTMP |
Playback protocol | ARTC (based on WebRTC) | RTMP, FLV, HLS |
Performance in poor network conditions | Maintains smooth playback with up to 30% packet loss. | Limited resilience in poor network conditions. |
Compatibility |
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Coverage | Global | Global |
End-to-End latency |
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Best practices |